Woman, 79, dies day after State Highway 22 head-on crash

A 79-year-old woman has died in hospital a day after she was in a serious head-on crash on a highway south of Auckland.

Police said the woman, one of two people critically injured in the crash on SH22 last Thursday, succumbed to her injuries the next day.

A man remains in hospital in a critical condition, however, two other people who suffered injuries had been discharged.

Police said the Serious Crash Unit was continuing to investigate.

Last Thursday the highway was closed after the Karaka Rd crash.

Police said at the time two people were trapped in their vehicle and another was fighting for their life.

The crash on the highway between the Southern Motorway and Pukekohe and Glenbrook was about 2.25pm, a police spokeswoman said.

SH22 - KARAKA - ROAD CLOSED - 2:10PM
Due to a serious crash in the Karaka area, between Great South Rd & Glenbrook Rd (Karaka Rbt), including Blackbridge Rd, #SH22 is closed. Please follow directions of emergency services in the area and consider delaying your journey. ^ND pic.twitter.com/0rDMGRxInD

— NZ Transport Agency - Auckland & Northland (@nztaaklnth) June 26, 2025

Footage of the crash supplied to the Herald showed two cars each with crushed bonnets with debris strewn over the road.

Emergency services closed Karaka Rd between Blackridge Rd and the Glenbrook roundabout.

Diversions were put in place north of the crash at Karaka Rd and Great South Rd.